Nicole Cole Kicks Off Campaign, Speaker Scott as Guest; Hampton Roads Urban League Event with AG; Black America Is Playing the Long Game
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Nicole Cole Kicks Off Campaign with Speaker Scott
By Jamar Billingsley 🏃🏽♀️➡️ FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Democratic House of Delegates nominee Nicole Cole, who is running for the District 66 seat, officially launched her political campaign with several well-known guest speakers in Spotsylvania, Va., this past Sunday.
Alpha Phi Alpha (APA) Omicron Alpha Lambda (OAL) Fredericksburg Chapter President Brown introduced guest speaker Don Scott, Spotsylvania school board member and Democratic nominee for district 66 Nicole Cole, First Black Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in the legislature’s 400-year history Don Scott, and Dr. Deborah Frazier.
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Cole held a soft campaign launch in early January in downtown Fredericksburg alongside current 65th District Del. Joshua Cole, no relation.
“I was eager to do the official campaign kick-off within the district I will serve,” Cole said. The political event lasted about two hours during the mid-afternoon at Lee’s Parke Clubhouse, beginning with a meet-and-greet among community members and campaign supporters.
Dr. Deborah Frazier, Chief Academic Officer for Spotsylvania County Public Schools (SCPS) and the county’s first African American elected to the Board of Supervisors, opened the event with a speech about Cole’s leadership.
Throughout her speech, Frazier emphasized how smart, ambitious, and courageous Cole is as a Spotsylvania School Board member. She also highlighted Cole’s dedication to helping families as a businesswoman, going above and beyond to educate the community about financial literacy.
“We all have a shared commitment here today. This campaign is about integrity, hard work, and dedication — fostering a culture of helping others,” Frazier said. Midway through the assembly, Alpha Phi Alpha (APA) Omicron Alpha Lambda (OAL) Fredericksburg Chapter President Brown introduced guest speaker Don Scott.
“We know him as Brother Don — a man of the community, someone who is simply trying to better society,” Brown said. He emphasized Scott’s work championing women’s reproductive rights, uplifting working families, advocating for an equitable economy, strengthening public education, improving healthcare, and pushing for criminal justice reform.
“He is the champion of many causes, but most importantly, he is the people’s champion,” Brown added. Scott made history in January 2024 by becoming the first Black Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in the legislature’s 400-year history.
It was a bright, sunny afternoon as Scott greeted the audience. “You could have been anywhere today, but you answered the call, and you’;re here with us,” he said. “If you want change, let’s do the work together. Things are not affordable right now.”
“Have you seen the price of eggs lately?” he added. “Help is on the way — Spanberger and Cole will take office this November. I’m very proud of Nicole. She’s the person for the job and understands the value of the dollar.”
Before concluding his endorsement, Scott firmly said, “A lot of politicians talk a good game, but if you don’t know economics like Cole does, things won’t pan out for the people of District 66.”
This November will bring a political showdown. Cole faces the task of defeating longtime incumbent Del. Bobby Orrock, who has held the 66th District seat since 1989.
Cole was exuberant about the words Frazier and Scott delivered to the audience. “This proves the support we will get from Richmond if I’m elected,” she said, smiling. Reflecting on her childhood, Cole spoke about growing up as a community kid, relying on the village around her to get to her activities.
“My mom was a teacher, and she had to work two jobs,” she said. “Improving teachers’ salaries is already on my to-do list.” The Cole campaign insists on investing in Spotsylvania and Caroline counties this year. Throughout her speech, Cole vowed to advocate for fair, livable wages, better housing, and improved healthcare.
“People are paying $2,300 a month for an apartment in Spotsylvania — that’s just unacceptable, and we demand better,” she said.
Cole shared a story about attending an event in Partlow, Va., where she sought voter support. One voter told her, “I know who you are now, but it doesn’t mean I will vote for you.”
Yet the voter couldn’t even name their current legislator.
“That’s why people should vote for me,” Cole said. “Let’s knock doors together, let’s invest in this campaign together, and let’s win District 66 together this November!” she said.
Before concluding the kick-off, Cole acknowledged the importance of strong representation and emphasized that the community has a right to know who is running. She shared her platform and introduced Nilofer Garza, who is running for the Board of Supervisors (BOS) in the Berkeley District, and Marcus Garcia, who is petitioning for BOS in the Lee Hill District.
Other prominent figures in attendance included Sen. Lamont Bagby, Del. Candi King, Battlefield District School Board nominee Dr. James King, and Courtland District School Board member Carol Medawar.
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Hampton Roads Urban League Event with Attorney General
NoVa Congressman Gerry Connolly Will Not Seek Reelection
By Markus Schmidt for the Virginia Mercury 🍀 U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Fairfax, a fixture in Northern Virginia politics for more than three decades, announced Monday he will not seek reelection after a resurgence of cancer, saying the sun is setting on his time in public service.
In a statement published on his social media accounts, Connolly thanked supporters for their “good wishes and compassion,” crediting their encouragement with giving him strength “in my fights — both against cancer and in our collective defense of democracy.”
He revealed that although initial treatments had seemed successful, his cancer has returned. “I’ll do everything possible to continue to represent you and thank you for your grace,” he wrote.
Connolly, 75, said he will soon step down as ranking member of the House Oversight Committee and finish out the remainder of his term with “no rancor and a full heart.” He added, “With pride in what we’ve accomplished together over 30 years, my loving family and staff sustain me. My extended family — you all have been a joy to serve.” READ ENTIRE
Strategic Resistance: Black America Is Playing the Long Game
By LaTosha Brown
Muhammad Ali’s famous “rope-a-dope” strategy — allowing his opponent to exhaust themselves while conserving energy, then striking with precision when they were depleted — wasn’t surrender but calculated patience. Today, Black America is employing its version of a rope-a-dope in response to the current political climate.
Below: A widely seen image of Black women indicates apathy after the Nov. 2024 elections. But is that true?
Black people are resolved in this moment. While many in America seem shocked by what this administration is doing, we have always understood the fragility of democracy – how constitutional rights have been perpetually framed to us as rewards rather than rights. We’ve grown familiar with watching higher courts strip away civil rights protections. Though today’s assault is more aggressive, we’ve experienced aspects of this rollback of rights in each generation.
The misconception that Black communities are inactive fundamentally misunderstands our sophisticated resistance strategies. Protesting must be strategic. Timing, context, and preparation matter. From Montgomery’s carpool systems to Selma’s tactical planning, preparation has always been the foundation of sustainable resistance.
Protest is only one tool in our resistance fight. When we are under attack, we must use every form of power we have — economic, electoral, political, communicative, and protest — to build our resistance movement in ways that can neither be ignored nor defeated. Right now, we are doing work that centers our needs. We are moving with purpose, organizing internally, and fortifying our communities.
Make no mistake: Resistance is happening across multiple fronts. The Target boycott, led by Dr. Jamal Bryant, has demonstrated our collective economic power with a 43% drop in quarterly profits. Our $1.4 trillion in spending power represents a formidable force when strategically directed. Black legal organizations are filing strategic lawsuits challenging voter suppression.
Media platforms like the Black Star Network, Black Press USA, “Contraband Camp,” and “Native Land Pod” are taking messages directly to Black audiences. The Black church, historically a cornerstone of resistance movements, continues to serve as both a sanctuary and a strategic headquarters for movement-building. We are organizing rallies across the country through the State of the People Tour, using every tool at our disposal, including becoming ungovernable — but we determine the timeline. We continue to protest on our terms, in ways that feed and inspire our communities. READ ENTIRE
Democrats Take to the Steps of the U.S. Capitol to Speak Against Expected GOP Budget Cuts
In a show of solidarity against the congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration, dozens of congressional Democratic members of Congress gathered on the steps of the U.S. House of Representatives from sunrise to sunset Sunday, April 27 to speak out against budget cuts.
Below: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and U.S. Senator Cory Booker yesterday on the steps of the U.S. House.
“The budget is a moral document,” said New Jersey Senator Cory Booker as he sat wearing a black shirt and pants next to the Democratic leader in the U.S. House, Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries. The two started with only Senator Chris Coons of Delaware at 7:30 am on Sunday. As the day moved forward many other members, advocates, and curious onlookers joined them in support of their effort to bring attention to what may be a historic budget in terms of cuts to social programs.
Throughout the day, lawmakers took turns sharing personal stories and reading testimonies from constituents whose lives have been transformed by government assistance. But since Trump took office for his second term in January, his focus has been on cutting the federal government and the jobs and programs associated that assist millions of Americans.
“I was on the steps of the Capitol with Leader Jeffries, Sen. Booker, and many others to make the case for what’s at stake with Trump’s budget. Medicaid, food assistance, and social security.
It’s all on the line. A moral moment” wrote Senator Amy Klobuchar, who may lead the Democrats as the next Leader of the Party in the U.S. Senate after the criticism of the leadership of Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and the retirement announcement of Senator Dick Durbin on April 23. Congressman Andre Carson (D-IN) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) also joined the group on the steps during the day. For African Americans in general, cuts to social safety net programs will have a disproportionate impact. READ ENTIRE
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